CLS Health FAQs and Notices
What kind of practice is CLS Health?
We are a multispecialty group practice that offers comprehensive, patient-centric care in 26 medical specialties.
Where are you located?
We have locations throughout the Houston area. Click here to explore our locations.
How long has CLS Health been in practice?
CLS Health was founded in 2005 by Dr. Mohammad Baba and Dr. Mahmood Dweik. Visit our For Paitents page to learn more.
What can I expect from CLS Health?
At CLS Health, we strive to provide compassionate, comprehensive, and patient-centered care that focuses on the well-being of our population. We ensure that our patients are treated with respect and empathy. We are committed to providing general and specialized medical care for acute and chronic illnesses. We use advanced diagnostic technologies at an affordable price and offer convenience with flexible hours. We excel in coordinating care between primary care physicians and specialists, which is essential to provide the best possible care for our patients in an efficient manner. Our team of healthcare professionals is highly trained in providing personalized care plans that consider your physical and psychosocial needs. We make sure to involve you in every step of the process so you feel comfortable with the decisions being made about your health. We value communication with our patients to better understand their unique situation. Additionally, we have created a family-centered approach that encourages family members to participate in the decision-making process when appropriate. Our goal is always to create a safe environment where family members can openly discuss their concerns so everyone feels heard and respected. At CLS Health, we believe everyone deserves access to high-quality medical care that puts their needs first and helps them lead healthier lives.
What is the CLS Health Patient Portal?
The CLS Health Patient Portal is a secure, free internet portal for patients to communicate with their healthcare team. You can access your portal 24/7 to view your health records, schedule an appointment, contact your healthcare team, view past and future appointments, and view certain test results.
What forms of insurance does CLS Health accept?
We believe everyone deserves access to high-quality medical care regardless of financial status. We accept more than 80 health insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare.
Please contact our customer service center at 281-724-1860 before scheduling an appointment to confirm that your health plan will cover the care you will receive.
How do I schedule an appointment?
There are two ways to schedule an appointment with a CLS Health provider: Call 281-724-1860 to speak to a customer service attendant or visit the CLS Health Patient Portal on your internet-enabled device and select “Book an Appointment.”
OON Disclosure Notice
Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills
You are protected from surprise billing or balance billing when you receive emergency care or treatment from an out-of-network (OON) provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center.
What is “Balance Billing” (Sometimes Called “Surprise Billing”)?
When you see a doctor or other healthcare provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have additional charges or be responsible for the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a healthcare facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.
“Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that do not have a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the total amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your deductible and annual out-of-pocket limit.
“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.
You are protected from balance billing for emergency services. If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you are in stable condition, unless you give written consent and surrender your protections against being balance billed for these post-stabilization services.
The State of Texas also has protection offered for state-regulated plans.
If you have a state-regulated plan, TDI or DOI should be listed on the card. This allows you to file a dispute with an arbitrator to resolve surprise billing issues. Additional information can be found here or by calling the Consumer Help Line at 800-252-3439.
Certain providers may be out-of-network when you receive services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center. In these cases, the most a provider may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, and services from assistant surgeons, hospitalists, or intensivists. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.
If you receive other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers cannot balance bill you unless you give written consent and give up your protections.
You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.
When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:
- Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization)
- Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers
- Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what you would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits
- Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit
If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed or would like more information regarding your rights under federal law, you may contact the Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-985-3059 or visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.
Click here for more information about your rights under Texas law for state-regulated plans.
Notice of Privacy Practices
CLS Health and its subsidiaries are required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information and to provide you with notice of its legal duties and privacy practices concerning your health information. CLS Health uses health information about you for treatment to obtain payment for treatment for administrative purposes and evaluate the quality of care you receive. Your health information is contained in a medical record that is maintained by CLS Health.
Patient Forms:
Notice of Privacy Practices – English
Notice of Privacy Practices – Spanish
Billing FAQ
Who do I contact if I have questions or concerns about my CLS Health account (billing or statements)?
We use several medical billing companies. Please contact our billing company via the phone number listed on the statement. If you have further questions, you can contact our office at 281-724-1860 Monday – Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
What is a deductible?
A deductible is the amount your insurance requires you to pay before they begin covering your medical expenses.
What is coinsurance?
Coinsurance is your portion of your medical expenses. This amount (percent) is determined by your insurance company.
Can an HMO patient have coinsurance?
Many HMO plans now have coinsurance due on some services. For example, a coinsurance may be due on a surgical procedure or hospital care.
Is it possible to have a deductible, co-pay, and coinsurance due for the same visit?
Yes. The amounts due are determined by the insurance plan.
Why didn't the front desk collect the total amount at the time of my visit?
The front desk can only provide an estimated amount for a visit. Even if we verify your benefits with your insurance company, they do not guarantee payment. After your insurance company processes your claim, a balance may still be due from you.
Why can't the front desk tell me precisely what my visit will cost?
The clinic provides medically necessary care to our patients. The full scope of this care cannot be determined until the patient is examined by a physician. We can, upon request, provide an estimate of your visit’s cost. We can also provide a more detailed estimate once your doctor has prescribed medically necessary tests or procedures. You may request this estimate from the medical assistant before obtaining these services.
Why wasn't I told this service wasn't covered by my insurance company?
CLS Health will try to verify your coverage and benefits and inform you if we learn that a service is not covered. However, we aren’t always able to contact your insurance carrier before your visit. Insurance companies do not guarantee benefits; they only provide us with an estimate of the coverage available. The physicians at CLS Health provide the care that is medically necessary for each patient; they do not provide care based on insurance coverage. Patients are encouraged to contact their insurance company with any questions about services covered or not covered by their plan.